Something from my childhood that has just come back to me, are 'desert boots'. See: http://www.abc.net.au/northtas/stories/s1586859.htm Is this type of footwear available where you live? If so, what do you call them? Brothel creepers Don't think so. I had some brothel creepers before I went all desert-boot. Both had crepe rubber soles, but the b.c. ones were an inch thick. I Gglimaged the _expression_, but found only a few I'd have dignified with the name brothel creepers back in '58, though most of the images did show very thick soles. Mine were very restrained dark tan jobs, but here's an extreme version I wouldn't have been surprised to see on a proper Ted (no idea if they're genuine, though):
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/65832/1/istockphot... or
http://tinyurl.com/hpl29